How to Cook Lentils

Lentils are an amazing member of the legume family. They're excellent in soups, salads and side dishes, and they pair well with many other flavors. According to the Mayo Clinic, they're also low in fat and high in protein, B vitamins, iron and fiber, which makes them an excellent source of nutrition as well. Combine all this with the fact that lentils are inexpensive and very easy to cook, and you simply have to give them a try.

Stove Top Method

The most common way to prepare lentils is to cook them in a saucepan. Using a 2:1 ratio of cold water to lentils tends to yield the best results, but you can always add a little more water if needed. Before cooking, rinse the lentils and sort through them to remove any field debris that might have been gathered with them.

Chili powder and jalapeño: These flavorings are for anyone who loves a little taste of the southwest.

Choose the Right Type of Lentils

You get slightly different results when you cook different types of lentils, so choose the right type for whichever dish you plan to make.

Red lentils cook fast and make great purees, especially for Indian dishes.

Brown lentils are a great choice for soups and stews, and they can act as thickening agents as they cook down.

Green lentils hold their shape better than other lentils even after they're cooked. This makes them the perfect lentil to use in a variety of Middle East salads.

Additional Tips for Cooking Lentils

Even though lentils are extremely easy to cook, there are a few things you should know about them before you begin. These tips will help you make great lentils every time.

Never mix an old package of lentils with a new package. Lentils continue to dry as they age, and they'll take longer to cook. If you mix them with newer lentils, they'll cook at different rates, which means you'll wind up with tough lentils mixed amongst the tender ones.

Don't add salt to your lentils until after they are tender because salt will make them tougher if you add it too soon.

Since different types of lentils cook at different rates, always check your lentils for tenderness rather than simply timing them. Red lentils cook quickest, followed by brown and then green.

Too Good to Pass Up

If you haven't made lentils before, there's no excuse to wait any longer. They taste great, they're good for you, and they're incredibly easy to cook. So instead of passing them up, cook some and pass them around the dinner table instead.

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